Rian Johnson on The Last Jedi Script and Title Meaning

With the arrival of Star Wars The Last Jedi Trailer, even more information about the film is coming out, including from writer-director Rian Johnson. During this week’s panel at Star Wars Celebration, the filmmaker revealed how the late Carrie Fisher (General Leia Organa) was actually an uncredited script doctor for the film. According to Johnson at the panel, they would spend hours going over the script and distill story elements into just a few words.

Johnson stated on the video memorial for Carrie Fisher that was shown at the convention, “It was such a moving tribute yesterday, I don’t know if I can add to that. I love her so much, I just adore her. I connected with her first and foremost as a writer. She’s a brilliant writer, with an incredible mind. I’d go to her house and we’d sit on her bed for hours, going through the script.”

He added, “And then at the end of six hours, there would be this four word line of dialogue that would be the distillation of all that, that was brilliant.”

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Later on, Johnson talked with ABC News about the film and answered a question about whether “The Last Jedi” was meant to be singular or plural. This question has been a constant debate as of late among fans since the title for the film was announced. It’s because Jedi can be both a plural and singular term.

Johnson stated, “It’s so funny when people started asking that when the title was announced because I never even pondered that question. That seems like, to me, the most like … uninteresting, I guess, ? Look, in my mind, it’s singular. In my mind it is, absolutely.”